Approximately 20 Canadian brethren from Muskoka Lodge #360 in Bracebridge, Ontario Canada will be coming to visit my lodge on Thursday April 25. The reason for the visit is that I have visited their lodge many times while vacationing near their lodge in the summertime and they want to come to be in my lodge with me. They are also most anxious to see a degree conferred in Pennsylvania. I have explained briefly to them some of the differences between our jurisdictions and the way we do things. We will be conferring a Master Mason's degree for them. It should be an enjoyable and wonderful experience for all.

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

Several years ago we had a program for awhile. The names of all the Lodges In Northern CA and Nevada were put in a box, one of the brothers would pull out an name and the lodge would then make a visit to that lodge. It was good fun as the lodge would caravan from our building. We also received many visits in return. I think I'll bring up the idea to this years Master as he is trying to get the lodge back on its feet after several years of falling apart.

thanks for your comments De Darrah. The brethren from Ontario are driving about 7 1/2 hours just to visit and see one of our degrees! This, just because I visited their lodge several times while in their area on vacation. I find that the Ontario Masons really do visit other lodges much more than we visit in my area. They frequently have a handful of visitors at their meetings. We are looking forward to welcoming them to our lodge.

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

The Canadians came down and we conferred a Master Mason's degree for them. They were very interested in the jurisdictional differences, specifically how our lodge room is setup compared to theirs. They were most impressed and surprised to learn that the WM confers the entire degree which means that he is speaking for close to an hour all from memory! In their jurisdiction, all degrees are broken into several parts and a different brother will learn that lecture and do it from memory. Our conferring Past Master did a great job and only required one prompt. Today (Fri. 4/25) they toured our Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center. This building was completed in 1995 and is home to the Valley of Pittsburgh, York Rite Bodies, Grotto, 5 lodges, Order of Odd Fellows and the Eastern Star. They were impressed by the size and beauty of the building. They have extended an invitation to my lodge to return the visit by us coming to see their lodge. It was a great time for Freemasonry and all attending had an enjoyable time. It was a visit that we all will remember for a long time.

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

Great! ... But no pictures of the Group????? .... A return visit by your Lodge would be a good time to suggest making the visit a regular thing may be every 2 or 3 years and alternating the location. With a little per-planning this could become a big deal with expanded masonic education & Lodge tours.

Edited by edwmax - April/26/2019 at 6:00pm

"He who would assume to govern others must first learn to govern himself."

Some of the brethren from my lodge seem to be interested in making a visit to their lodge and it is being talked about. As for pictures, I'll see if I can figure out how to post them. There is another lodge on the other side of Pittsburgh that has been involved in fraternal visits with a lodge from Orillia, Ontario that has been going on for nearly 60 years.

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

Sorry about the typo in the link.....I left the letter "e" off the word facebook. If you make that correction it should work. Then click on photos. My apologies. In the group photo, I am the short guy, third from the left with the PM apron and jewel.

Edited by log cabin Bill - May/08/2019 at 5:46am

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

Here is the address again https://www.facebook.com/NHL716/I have typed it in several times and every time it takes me right to my lodge's facebook page. I don't know why it is not working for you. If you want to look for the lodge on facebook it is North Hills Lodge #716.

North Hills Lodge, #716,PMAllegheny RAM,#217,PHPAllegheny Council,#38,PTIMAllegheny Commandery #35Knight Masons,Gateway To The West Council #5AASR,Valley of Pgh.Syria ShrineIslam Grotto

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